Baku, Gobustan, Ivanovka and Sheki: 8-day sightseeing tour

Day-by-day itinerary

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Baku and transfer to the hotel — a day without a mandatory program. Free time can be spent at your own discretion or, for an additional fee, you can visit a welcome dinner in a restaurant-museum with national cuisine and music or an excursion to the carpet museum, where a collection of old and modern carpets tells about the history of the craft. This day sets the tone of the trip: you get acquainted with the city at your own pace.

2. Day 2

   The sightseeing tour of Baku begins with the Highland Park — from there a panorama of the city and the sea opens up. Then you descend to the Seaside Boulevard along the Caspian Sea, where there are fountains, sculptures and cafes. After that — the old quarters of Icherisheher, surrounded by fortress walls, with their winding streets, mosques and palaces, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower. The walk ends on Nizami Street, where facades of local stone are especially striking in the light of the streetlamps.

3. Day 3

   The day is dedicated to natural and historical monuments outside the city. In the Gobustan Reserve you will see ancient rock images and an interactive museum, and then — mud volcanoes that throw out warm mineralized mud. After that — the Bibi-Heybat Mosque on the shore of Baku Bay and oil rigs as another symbol of the city. The pace of the day is measured, with drives, but the impressions are very different.

4. Day 4

   This day is given over to the architecture of the newest time. The Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, amazes with the smoothness of its lines and the absence of sharp corners. Inside — expositions about the history and culture of the country, as well as personal belongings and photographs of Heydar Aliyev. Lunch in a national restaurant is possible for an additional fee. The day is calm and short, with a return to the hotel and free time.

5. Day 5

   The road to Sheki begins with a stop in the mountain village of Meysari, then you will visit Shamakhi with the Juma Mosque and the Diri-Baba Mausoleum. Along the way — the Ismayilli District and Lahij, known for its copper utensils and the traditions of the Great Silk Road. In Ivanovka, a Russian Molokan village, you can see wooden izbas and hear Russian spoken. Lunch in a national restaurant for an additional fee. In Sheki you check into a hotel, and the rest of the day is free.

6. Day 6

   The acquaintance with Sheki begins with the Nukha Fortress, the Khan Mosque and the Palace of the Sheki Khans, whose windows of multicolored glass create a play of light. Then — the village of Kish, where the first Christian church in the Caucasus is located, a defensive fortress and a bust of Thor Heyerdahl, as well as the Museum of Applied Art. After the excursion — return to Baku and check-in at the hotel. The day is packed, but with a long drive at the end.

7. Day 7

   A free day in Baku. You can go on your own to the Yashil Bazaar for spices and souvenirs, visit shopping centers with cinemas and cafes, stroll along the Fountain Square on Nizami Street or return to the old city of Icherisheher. This day has no mandatory program and allows you to slow down after the previous packed excursions.

8. Day 8

   Transfer to the airport. Before departure there remains free time, and if the flight is later, luggage is allowed to be left for storage at the hotel. A late check-out is possible for an additional fee. The trip ends, leaving time for last walks around Baku.